Hybrid tomato plant named ‘Esas’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of paste-type hybrid tomato plant ( Solanum lycopersicum×Capsicum anuum  ‘Esas’) is described that is believed derived in part from an Amish tomato, and in part from a Big Bertha Pepper. This hybrid tomato ‘Esas’ has 2-4 lobes similar to a pepper, a hardy skin, and remains on the vine when ripe until frost. When picked ripe, this tomato lasts longer without rotting than normal tomatoes. Some of these tomatoes have been eaten after 1 to 8 months from picking. The fruit usually shrinks inside itself after some time from picking.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Solanum lycopersicum×Capsicum anuum ‘Esas’.

Variety denomination: “ESAS”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present plant is a new and distinct hybrid tomato plant which was a selection taken from plants found in a cultivated area and then asexually and/or sexually reproduced. The cultivated area was Applicant's garden of about 40 feet by 80 feet where tomatoes, peppers, onions, squash, beans, peas, beets, kohlrabi, turnips and other vegetables as desired are grown in a season. The year when this hybrid was found, Applicant was growing Big Bertha peppers (Capsicum anuum) as the only pepper in his garden; the next row had Amish tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum); then other rows farther removed from the hybrid plant had Big Boy, Better Boy, Beefsteak and Yellow Girl tomatoes growing. To Applicant's best knowledge and belief, the cross was made by a bee. The new hybrid was found in one of the rows of Amish tomatoes where the plant was not tilled under.

Seeds were grown out from the first plant for sexual reproducing the plant and cuttings of the plant done for asexually reproducing the plant where the plant part (e.g. the stem) was directly planted into the soil without any pretreatment or root growth hormone added. The plant stem formed roots and produced fruit as did the seeds. Selection of subsequently growing plants was based on the shape of the fruit and the hardy skin. Selected seed and/or cuttings were again grown out and planted near Amish tomato plants. Selection was again made using the same criteria. This was repeated three times. Selection from the last named generation was based on shape, hearty skin, and ability to remain on the vine after ripened. Surprisingly, the hybrid plant has grown to type and is stable for its traits as discussed herein for the last nine years. No further crosses of the parents have been made. Other characteristics of the hybrid plant are stated below.

Asexual reproduction of the new hybrid tomato plant by cuttings in my garden in St. Johns, Mich.

DESCRIPTION OF PARENTS

Amish tomato, the seed parent, can be both indeterminate and determinate; this parent plant was indeterminate, and is a member of the Roma family. They are disease resistant to fusarium wilt and verticillum. The Amish tomato is a medium size fruit and a usual shape for the Roma family with a rounded or pointed end. The usual Amish tomato believed to be the parent variety is shown in some of the photographs provided with this application.

Big Bertha Pepper, the pollen parent, is a green pepper and has no use as a tomato. As with most peppers, this tomato has characteristics of definite lobes, internal ridges, and retention on the plant on the vine after ripened.

In contrast to the present hybrid, Burgess Stuffing tomatoes are hollow inside with seeds resting at the top of the tomato, similar to a pepper. They have 3 lobes and their size is larger than the present hybrid tomato. The present hybrid tomatoes have seeds all through their cavities, in a manner more like a tomato (see FIG. 6). Toma-P had no picture in U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,561 but states it is a hybrid by cross-breeding of Mexican, Indian, Hungarian, Dutch and Canadian paprika, Japanese tomatoes and Japanese peppers; and it is a slightly flattened globe, crunchy similar to an apple. Thus neither of the mentioned hybrids result in the characteristics of the present hybrid tomato as described herein.

This invention relates to a new paste-type hybrid tomato that is distinguished from both of its parents. This new hybrid tomato plant, cultivar ‘Esas’ (named Tulip Tomato®, trademark of Applicant) is also distinguished from other tomato varieties of which Applicant is aware by virtues of several characteristics described herein, especially by its shape and hardy skin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show a number of specimens of the hybrid plant and its fruit throughout various stages of growth as experienced in the summer of 2010 in central Michigan. The plants were only watered by natural rainfall for the entire growing season.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the present hybrid tomato ‘Esas’ as growing on the vine and showing the clustering of the tomatoes as they grow.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a 3 lobe hybrid tomato ‘Esas’.

FIG. 3 is a photograph—from left to right—hybrid tomato ‘Esas’, Roma tomato, Roma tomato, and Amish tomato.

FIG. 4 is a photograph—from left to right—hybrid tomato ‘Esas’, Golden Girl tomato, and Mr. Stripey tomato.

FIG. 5 is a photograph—from left to right—Cherry tomato, Grape tomato, Italian Ice, large yellow grape tomato, and hybrid tomato ‘Esas’.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of a hybrid tomato ‘Esas’ cut open about 60 days after being picked and showing that it is still firm inside, with no visible deterioration but some wrinkling on the outer skin.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

A detailed description of my new hybrid tomato is as follows—based upon my observation made from plants grown for about seven years in Michigan. The following outline sets forth a number of distinguishing features of this hybrid tomato over plants known before as seen in the photographs of the plant as attached hereto. The color specifications mentioned herein were determined by the reference to Federal Color Standard 595 revision B (FED-STD-595B).

-   Some of these plant characteristics are as follows:     -   -   Type.—Paste — type tomato of indeterminate habit bearing a             unique shaped fruit having 1-4 lobes with seed cavities             corresponding to the number of lobes and a hardy skin. The 1             pointed lobe has 4 divisions and can be seen on the surface             of the tomato, and has 4 seed cavities. The 2-4 lobes of the             fruit are distinctive like a pepper (FIG. 3 shows 3 lobes).             The seeds are distributed as usual in a tomato and not as             found in a pepper.         -   Breeding.—Developed initially to Applicant's best knowledge             and belief by accidental cross-breeding by a bee of an Amish             tomato (seed parent) and Big Bertha Pepper (pollen parent)             varieties and found in a cultivated area, and thereafter by             deliberate selecting the most desirable characteristics of             the next generation plants. The resulting plant holds its             distinguishing characteristics through succeeding             propagations by cuttings of the plant (such as taking the             stem without roots and directly planting in soil without any             pretreatment). This hybrid also has viable seeds so both             asexual and sexual reproduction methods have been used by             Applicant. Both methods yield the same hybrid fruit and             display its characteristics.         -   Seed parent.—Amish tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum) to             Applicant's best knowledge and belief.         -   Pollen parent.—Big Bertha Pepper plant (Capsicum anuum) to             Applicant's best knowledge and belief.         -   Cultivar name.—‘Esas’.         -   Propagation.—Selection was made from the initial found             plants in a cultivated area that were grown out both             sexually from their seeds, asexually from cuttings of their             stems, and a combination of seeds and cuttings. Further             selections of plants over seven years were made based on             shape and hardy skin. The present hybrid plant is a             selection taken from the plants grown from seeds of the last             generation and/or cuttings of the plants by taking stems and             planting them. The seed plants and the cuttings plants             produce the same fruit having the 1 to 4 lobes and the hardy             skin. Both seeds and cuttings (if kept in an environment             above freezing during winter) can be used to plant the             hybrid plant the next growing season. -   Plant:     -   -   Habit.—Indeterminate in growth habit, is hardy and may be             used as a ground or staked variety. The stalk is thinner as             compared to an Amish tomato. The foliage is relative sparse             and about the same color (FS 34110) as the Amish tomato but             the green (FS 34110) of the foliage is lighter than the Big             Bertha Pepper. The plant reaches maturity in 75 to 90 days             after transplanting depending on seasonal conditions. The             fruit remains on the vine after being ripe for long periods             of time (similar to a green pepper). This enables later             picking of the ripe fruit to market as it does not readily             fall to the ground soon after being ripe as do other tomato             varieties.         -   Growth.—Medium size plant around 5 feet with an average rate             of growth. The plants begin to blossom early in the season             as the ground warms. Individual blossoms of this hybrid             plant are five petal and star shaped. -   Foliage: The plants are vine like and can be staked or not. There     are numerous branches. The branches coming off the main stalk are     close to the ground, and are about 1 to 4 inches apart. Additional     leaf stalks and nodes grow on the branches.     -   -   Size of leaf.—(Mature) Leaves are 6 to 7 cm×4 cm and look             the same as the Amish tomato variety. The leaf is elliptic             in shape with margin teeth. The leaf type appears to be             compound, odd pinnate. The surface texture for the upper             surface is canaliculated (channeled) and the lower surface             is pubescent (hairy). The leaves are shown in FIG. 1.         -   Color.—The upper leaf and the lower leaf is medium green (FS             34110).         -   Main stems.—132 to 137 cm long. (Tall); Color of the stem             can vary with time of season and location, generally the             color is brown (FS 34097); the surface texture is pubescent             (hairy).         -   Branches.—8 to 10 branches from the main stem.         -   New shoots.—Up to 22, but new shoots will appear until             frost.         -   Flowers.—The flowers begin from 4 to 6 weeks after planting             and continue to form and flower until frost. There are 5, 6             or 7 petals for the flower; trumpet shaped; light yellow (in             a range from FS 33481 to FS 33591); less than 1 inch in             length. The outer most whorl consists of the sepals;             collectively the sepals are the calyx. The sepal diameter is             between ¾ to 1 inch, depending on maturity, surface texture             is pubescent (hairy) color is green (FS 34097). Applicant             has observed a 5 leaf sepal, 5 petal flower and a 6 leaf             sepal, 6 petal flower on the same inflorescence this season.             There is 1 gynoecium which is light green in color             (FS 33814) having a width about 1/16 inch. The stigma             extends out beyond the tip of the stamens. Syncarpous fruits             develop from a single gynoecium having 2 to 4 carpels fused             together as this hybrid has 2, 3 and 4 cavities. There are             2, 3 or 4 carpels per flower, color (FS 34097). The number             of carpels in the flower corresponds to the number of             locules from 2-4 found in the fruit. Androecium number 5, 6             or 7 stamens which correspond to the 5, 6 or 7 flower             petals, respectively. Petiole size is less than an inch,             surface texture pubescent (hairy) and color is green (FS             34097). Peduncle average size 2 to 5 cm, surface texture             pubescent (hairy) and color is green (FS 34097). The amount             of fruit born on the inflorescence depends on weather             conditions. A total of 6, either fruits and/or flowers, have             been observed on a 5 inch stem this season that is not over;             previous seasons up to 13 fruit have been observed on an             inflorescence and the stem grows longer to accommodate this             increase. The present hybrid tomato stem is color (FS 34097)             and branch color (FS 34097). -   Fruit:     -   -   Fruit.—About 100 to 196 fruit from one plant is obtained in             a season until frost. The fruit grows as clusters             (inflorescence) of about 7 to 13 fruits on a branch, similar             to cherry tomatoes. FIG. 1 illustrates this property.         -   Shape.—Similar to a green pepper or apple shape having 2 to             4 lobes all having definite division of sections similar to             a green pepper. The lobes can be observed on the outside of             the tomato and has internal seed cavities corresponding to             the number of lobes, except the pointed or 1 lobe variety             which has 4 seed cavities. FIG. 2 shows a 3 lobe hybrid             tomato ‘Esas’.         -   Size.—Average weight is about 15.75 to 27.45 grams, about             3.2 to 4 cm in width, and 3.7 to 4 cm in height. Thus this             hybrid tomato ‘Esas’ is larger than a cherry tomato but             smaller than its Amish tomato parent. See FIGS. 3, 4 and 5             showing these size differences. The core is an average 6.35             mm; wall is an average of 4.15 mm.         -   Texture.—Firm. The skin is hardy like a green pepper and the             number of lobes represents the number of seed cavities,             except the pointed or 1 lobe variety which has 4 seed             cavities. The skin does not blanch off or separate when             pressure cooked but rather disintegrates.         -   Color (skin).—Immature — light green (FS 33814) face with             waxy appearance and often with a darker green (FS 34109)             shoulder. Mature — light red (FS 33120) to red (FS 31128).         -   Color (flesh).—Light red (FS 33120) to red (FS 31128).         -   Bearing season.—The bearing season is from 75 to 90 days             after transplanting or planting, and the plant will hold             most fruit until frost (if the weather cooperates).         -   Flavor.—Mild tomato taste/meaty with low acid.         -   Skin.—The skin is quite tough, and similar to a green             pepper.         -   Seed.—The seeds are present throughout the cavities of the             fruit with an average of 81 seeds per fruit; on average a             seed is 1/16 to ⅛ inch in a pear shape with a white color             (FS 33532).         -   Disease resistance.—Similar to the Amish tomato resistance             to fusarium wilts and verticillum — with the only insects             seen being the tomato cut worm and grasshoppers. Fruit flies             only happen if the fruit is damaged. If the fruit is not             damaged, this hybrid resists rotting very well for long             periods of time and the usual white fungus does not appear             (disease resistant to fusarium wilt and verticillum). After             picking a ripe fruit, the fruit will shrink inside itself             over time, like the pepper, but can still be safely eaten             months after picking. FIG. 6 shows a hybrid tomato ‘Esas’             after about 60 days from picking having these stated             characteristics. (Note: Applicant has taken the seeds out of             the tomato after 8 months and eaten the pulp. Taste is about             the same as the usual fruit at picking.) Not all present             hybrid tomatoes will last this long, but frequently do last             on an average about 30 days to 8 months.         -   Use.—As a paste — type tomato for human consumption with             likely ease of mechanical picking as it remains on the vine             after ripening until frost.         -   Bearing qualities.—Quality: The plants have been grown for             the last 9 years with the above qualities appearing every             season and are shown fixed in the asexual reproduction of             the plant.             Characteristics:

Applicant believes that these plants are hybrid tomatoes because of their very different characteristics from its parent tomato or pepper as follows:

-   -   5 petals for its flower (like a pepper);     -   the “skin” does not blanch off or separate when cooked in a         pressure cooker but rather disintegrates without any skin pieces         (unlike a tomato);     -   it has lobes (like a pepper), average 3-4 lobes but from 1-4         lobes are possible, with seeds in each lobe; when only 1 lobe is         present, it has 4 compartments of seeds;     -   its size is larger than a cherry tomato and smaller than a Roma         tomato or Amish tomato;     -   the tomatoes remain on the vine until frost or they are removed         (like a pepper) as they do not fall from the vine when ripe (as         do most tomatoes);     -   they can be picked until frost so fresh fruit is available all         season;     -   if not bruised they do not rot (disease resistant to fusarium         wilt and verticillum) after being picked (as do most tomatoes);     -   if not damaged can be kept in the open room temperature for 1 to         8 months and retain their flavor although they shrivel and loose         size, like a pepper; and     -   their outer skin is hardy and firm (like a pepper). 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of a hybrid tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum×Capsicum anuum ‘Esas’) asexually prorogated substantially as herein described and illustrated. 